The Minister of Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, urged the Pakistani pilgrims to Hajj on Tuesday to respect the laws of Saudi Arabia and consider themselves ambassadors in his country during his stay in the kingdom.
Speaking in a Hajj training workshop in Islamabad, organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Yosaf emphasized the importance of adhering to local regulations.
Pakistan launched the second compulsory training phase for Hajj pilgrims on Tuesday, after the first phase held earlier this year.
“Hajj pilgrims go as Pakistan ambassadors. They take care of the laws there,” Yousaf told attendees. “Do not do anything to respect your country,” he added.
Yousaf praised the Saudi government for its impressive arrangements for pilgrims, referring to the kingdom as a “fraternal country.” He said that Pakistani officials had reviewed Hajj arrangements in Saudi Arabia, promising that pilgrims would not face any unpleasant experience.
The minister also announced that mandatory vaccines for Pakistani pilgrims would take place on April 20. As part of the requirements established by the Saudi Ministry of Health, pilgrims must comply with strict vaccination protocols to guarantee public safety.
Mandatory vaccines include meningitis shot, with additional recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccine. The pilgrims of the regions affected by yellow fever and polio are also obliged to provide immunization certificates.
These precautions are vital to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during the annual pilgrimage, one of the world’s greatest meetings.
Yousaf confirmed that around 90,000 Pakistani is expected to perform a Hajj this year under the government’s scheme.
Saudi Arabia has assigned a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan, with half of the quota reserved for the government’s scheme and the other half for private agreements.
